Genesis 43:8
New International Version
Then Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy along with me and we will go at once, so that we and you and our children may live and not die.

New Living Translation
Judah said to his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will be on our way. Otherwise we will all die of starvation—and not only we, but you and our little ones.

English Standard Version
And Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones.

Berean Standard Bible
And Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me, and we will go at once, so that we may live and not die—neither we, nor you, nor our children.

King James Bible
And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones.

New King James Version
Then Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones.

New American Standard Bible
So Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me and we will arise and go, so that we may live and not die, we as well as you and our little ones.

NASB 1995
Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the lad with me and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, we as well as you and our little ones.

NASB 1977
And Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, we as well as you and our little ones.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, we as well as you and our little ones.

Amplified Bible
Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the young man with me and we will get up and go [buy food], so that we may live and not die [of starvation], we as well as you and our little ones.

Christian Standard Bible
Then Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me. We will be on our way so that we may live and not die—neither we, nor you, nor our dependents.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me. We will be on our way so that we may live and not die—neither we, nor you, nor our children.

American Standard Version
And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones.

Contemporary English Version
Then Judah said to his father, "Let Benjamin go with me, and we will leave at once, so that none of us will starve to death.

English Revised Version
And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then Judah said to his father Israel, "Send the boy along with me. Let's get going so that we won't starve to death.

Good News Translation
Judah said to his father, "Send the boy with me, and we will leave at once. Then none of us will starve to death.

International Standard Version
"Send the young man with me," Judah told his father Israel, "and we'll get up and go so we can survive and not die—and that includes all of us, you and our families.

Majority Standard Bible
And Judah said to his father Israel, ?Send the boy with me, and we will go at once, so that we may live and not die?neither we, nor you, nor our children.

NET Bible
Then Judah said to his father Israel, "Send the boy with me and we will go immediately. Then we will live and not die--we and you and our little ones.

New Heart English Bible
Then Judah said to Israel, his father, "Send the boy with me and we?ll get up and go, so that we may live and not die, both we and you, and also our little ones.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Judah said to Israel, his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones.

World English Bible
Judah said to Israel, his father, “Send the boy with me, and we’ll get up and go, so that we may live, and not die, both we, and you, and also our little ones.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Judah says to his father Israel, “Send the youth with me, and we arise, and go, and live, and do not die, both we, and you, and our infants.

Young's Literal Translation
And Judah saith unto Israel his father, 'Send the youth with me, and we arise, and go, and live, and do not die, both we, and thou, and our infants.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Judah will say to Israel his father, Send the youth with me, and we will arise and go; and we shall live and not die, also we, also thou, also our little ones.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Juda said to his father: Send the bou with me, that we may set forward, and may live: lest both we and our children perish.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Likewise, Judah said to his father: “Send the boy with me, so that we may set out and be able to live, lest we and our little ones should die.

New American Bible
Then Judah urged his father Israel: “Let the boy go with me, that we may be off and on our way if you and we and our children are to keep from starving to death.

New Revised Standard Version
Then Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me, and let us be on our way, so that we may live and not die—you and we and also our little ones.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Judah said to Israel his father, Send the lad with us, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and you, and also our little ones.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Yehuda said to Israel, his father, “Send the boy with us, and we will arise and go and we will live and not die, neither we, nor you, neither our little ones.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Judah said unto Israel his father: 'Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Judas said to his father Israel, Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and thou, and our store.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Return to Egypt with Benjamin
7They replied, “The man questioned us in detail about ourselves and our family: ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ And we answered him accordingly. How could we possibly know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother here’?” 8And Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me, and we will go at once, so that we may live and not die— neither we, nor you, nor our children. 9I will guarantee his safety. You may hold me personally responsible. If I do not bring him back and set him before you, then may I bear the guilt before you all my life.…

Cross References
Genesis 42:37
Then Reuben said to his father, “You may kill my two sons if I fail to bring him back to you. Put him in my care, and I will return him.”

Genesis 44:32-34
Indeed, your servant guaranteed the boy’s safety to my father, saying, ‘If I do not return him to you, I will bear the guilt before you, my father, all my life.’ / Now please let your servant stay here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy. Let him return with his brothers. / For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the misery that would overwhelm him.”

Genesis 46:3-4
“I am God,” He said, “the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. / I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will surely bring you back. And Joseph’s own hands will close your eyes.”

Genesis 42:2
“Look,” he added, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.”

Genesis 45:7-8
God sent me before you to preserve you as a remnant on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. / Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God, who has made me a father to Pharaoh—lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

Genesis 50:20
As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people.

Exodus 32:32
Yet now, if You would only forgive their sin.... But if not, please blot me out of the book that You have written.”

1 Samuel 25:24-31
She fell at his feet and said, “My lord, may the blame be on me alone, but please let your servant speak to you; hear the words of your servant. / My lord should pay no attention to this scoundrel Nabal, for he lives up to his name: His name means Fool, and folly accompanies him. I, your servant, did not see my lord’s young men whom you sent. / Now, my lord, as surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, since the LORD has held you back from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hand, may your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be like Nabal. ...

2 Samuel 14:14
For we will surely die and be like water poured out on the ground, which cannot be recovered. Yet God does not take away a life, but He devises ways that the banished one may not be cast out from Him.

2 Kings 7:4
If we say, ‘Let us go into the city,’ we will die there from the famine in the city; but if we sit here, we will also die. So come now, let us go over to the camp of the Arameans. If they let us live, we will live; if they kill us, we will die.”

Psalm 121:7-8
The LORD will guard you from all evil; He will preserve your soul. / The LORD will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore.

Proverbs 24:11-12
Rescue those being led away to death, and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter. / If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,” does not He who weighs hearts consider it? Does not the One who guards your life know? Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?

Isaiah 49:6
He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.”

Jeremiah 38:17-20
Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “This is what the LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you indeed surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, then you will live, this city will not be burned down, and you and your household will survive. / But if you do not surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, then this city will be delivered into the hands of the Chaldeans. They will burn it down, and you yourself will not escape their grasp.’” / But King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “I am afraid of the Jews who have deserted to the Chaldeans, for the Chaldeans may deliver me into their hands to abuse me.” ...

Matthew 20:28
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”


Treasury of Scripture

And Judah said to Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and you, and also our little ones.

lad with me.

Genesis 42:38
And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.

Genesis 44:26
And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man's face, except our youngest brother be with us.

Exodus 20:12
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

that we.

Genesis 42:2
And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.

Deuteronomy 33:6
Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few.

2 Kings 7:4,13
If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die…

also our.

Genesis 45:19
Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.

Genesis 50:8,21
And all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father's house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen…

Numbers 14:31
But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised.

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Genesis 43
1. Jacob is persuaded to send Benjamin.
15. Joseph entertains his brothers.
19. They discover their fears to the steward.
26. Joseph makes them a feast.














And Judah said
The name "Judah" comes from the Hebrew "Yehudah," meaning "praise." Judah, the fourth son of Jacob and Leah, emerges as a leader among his brothers. His role in this narrative is pivotal, as he steps forward to take responsibility. Historically, Judah's leadership foreshadows the royal lineage of David and ultimately, Jesus Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. This moment marks a significant transformation in Judah's character, from one who previously suggested selling Joseph into slavery to one who now offers himself as a surety for Benjamin.

to his father Israel
"Israel" is the name given to Jacob after wrestling with God (Genesis 32:28). It means "he struggles with God" or "God prevails." This duality of names—Jacob and Israel—reflects the patriarch's complex character and his journey of faith. In this context, Israel is the father of the twelve tribes, and his decisions impact the future of God's covenant people. The use of "Israel" here emphasizes the covenantal and national implications of the family's survival.

Send the boy with me
The phrase "Send the boy" indicates a sense of urgency and necessity. "The boy" refers to Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel, and the only full brother of Joseph. Benjamin's safety is of utmost concern to Jacob, as he is the last remaining son of his beloved Rachel. Judah's offer to take Benjamin under his care signifies a deep sense of responsibility and a willingness to protect his brother at all costs.

We will go at once
This phrase underscores the immediacy of the situation. The famine in Canaan is severe, and the family's survival depends on their swift action. Judah's determination to "go at once" reflects his understanding of the dire circumstances and his commitment to ensuring the well-being of his family. It also highlights the urgency of obedience and trust in God's provision during times of crisis.

so that we may live and not die
The contrast between "live" and "die" emphasizes the life-and-death stakes of their decision. In the Hebrew context, life is a gift from God, and survival is often seen as a sign of divine favor. This plea for life echoes the broader biblical theme of God's desire for His people to choose life and blessing over death and curse (Deuteronomy 30:19). Judah's words remind us of the importance of faith and action in the face of adversity.

neither we, nor you, nor our children
This phrase highlights the collective nature of the family's plight. Judah's concern extends beyond himself to include his father and the next generation. It reflects the biblical principle of intergenerational responsibility and the importance of preserving the family line. In a broader sense, it points to the continuity of God's covenant promises through the descendants of Israel, ultimately leading to the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan through Jesus Christ.

(8) The lad.--Benjamin was now between twenty and thirty years of age. The term "lad" in Judah's mouth is one of affection, but even in itself it suits very well to a youth of this age. Rebekah (in Genesis 24:16) is called in the Hebrew a lad (see Note there), and so is Shechem in Genesis 34:19. The assertion, therefore, that Benjamin is here represented as a mere boy, is disproved by the use of the word in the Hebrew.

Our little ones.--Heb., our "tafs" that is, our households. (See Note on Genesis 34:29.)

Verses 8-10. - And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me (Benjamin, though styled a lad, must have been at this time upwards of twenty years of age), and we will arise and go; that we may (literally, and we shall) live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones. I will be surety for him (the verb conveys the idea of changing places with another); of my hand shalt thou require him (vide Genesis 9:5): if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, - the words are even more emphatic than those of Reuben (Genesis 42:37) - then let me bear the blame for ever - literally, and I shall be a sinner (i.e. liable to punishment as a sinner) against the& all the gays (sc. of my life). The thought is elliptical. Judah means that if he does not return with Benjamin he shall both have failed in his promise and be guilty of a dire transgression against his father (cf. 1 Kings 1:21). For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time - literally, these two times. The nobility of character which shines out so conspicuously in Judah's language is afterwards signally illustrated in his pathetic pleading before Joseph, and goes far to countenance the suggestion that a change must have taken place in his inner life since the incidents recorded of him in Genesis 37, and 38.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And Judah
יְהוּדָ֜ה (yə·hū·ḏāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites

said
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

his father
אָבִ֗יו (’ā·ḇîw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1: Father

Israel,
יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

“Send
שִׁלְחָ֥ה (šil·ḥāh)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

the boy
הַנַּ֛עַר (han·na·‘ar)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer

with me,
אִתִּ֖י (’it·tî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

and we will go at once,
וְנֵלֵ֑כָה (wə·nê·lê·ḵāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

so that we may live
וְנִֽחְיֶה֙ (wə·niḥ·yeh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common plural
Strong's 2421: To live, to revive

and not
וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

die—
נָמ֔וּת (nā·mūṯ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

neither we,
אֲנַ֥חְנוּ (’ă·naḥ·nū)
Pronoun - first person common plural
Strong's 587: We

nor you,
אַתָּ֖ה (’at·tāh)
Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

nor our children.
טַפֵּֽנוּ׃ (ṭap·pê·nū)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common plural
Strong's 2945: A family


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OT Law: Genesis 43:8 Judah said to Israel his father Send (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 43:7
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